The Chess Hall of Fame: Birthday tributes - Vasily Smislov-Harmony on the board
Vasily Smyslov was born on March 24, 1921, in Moscow. His father, a strong amateur chess player, was his first teacher, laying the foundation for his deep positional understanding. Smyslov’s meteoric rise in the chess world saw him become one of the strongest players of his generation, earning the grandmaster title in 1941 at just 20 years old.
In the shadow of Moscow's winter light, Vasily Vasilyevich Smyslov was destined to weave artistry across the sixty-four squares. Like a composer arranging notes on a staff, Smyslov arranged his pieces with rhythmic precision, creating symphonies of wood and ivory.
While war raged across Europe, his mind crafted peaceful battles, his approach to chess more reminiscent of a poet than a warrior. Where others saw conflict, Smyslov perceived harmony.
In 1957, after three attempts to scale the chess Olympus, he finally dethroned the mighty Mikhail Botvinnik to become the seventh World Champion. His victory was not merely a triumph of calculation but a testament to chess as an art form—each move flowing into the next with the inevitability of a Bach fugue. Though his reign lasted just one year before Botvinnik reclaimed the crown, Smyslov had already etched his name among the immortals.
What separated Smyslov from his contemporaries was his dual soul—the analytical mind of a grandmaster balanced with the sensitive heart of an artist. He might have become an opera singer had chess not claimed his devotion, yet this musical sensibility infused his play with a rare elegance. His endgames, particularly, were conducted with the delicate touch of a virtuoso, finding beauty in positions others deemed barren.
As autumn years approached, Smyslov refused to fade. While contemporaries retreated from the board, he continued to create, qualifying for the Candidates matches in 1983 at the astonishing age of 62, and reaching the finals before falling to the young Garry Kasparov. Even as his eyesight dimmed in later life, his inner vision of the board remained crystal clear.
Smyslov's legacy transcends his 70-year career, eight Olympiad gold medals, and countless brilliant games. He showed us that chess could be both struggle and serenity, competition and creation. When he passed in 2010 at the age of 89, the chess world lost not just a champion but a poet who spoke through pawns and pieces, leaving behind an oeuvre of games that still sing with quiet brilliance.
Beyond the chessboard, Smyslov had a deep passion for music, particularly opera singing, and even auditioned for the Bolshoi Theatre. He often stated that his love for harmony in music influenced his chess style—logical, harmonious, and deeply intuitive.
Smyslov once wrote: "I am a believer and a devotee of classical chess thought. The essence of the game lies in the pursuit of truth and the victory as a consequence of that truth. No creativity, no virtuoso technique, and no understanding of the opponent or his psychology can make chess an art if they do not ultimately serve this fundamental goal—the search for truth." Following these principles, Smyslov built his opening repertoire with great care, particularly with the black pieces. He famously remarked, "Black asks—fall in love with us! Everyone loves White." His contributions to opening theory are nearly as significant as those of Botvinnik. His ideas in the Grünfeld, Ruy Lopez, and other openings remain relevant even today .For this reason, I have included two of Smyslov’s games—one featuring the Bogoljubov Defense and the other the Slav-Schlechter Defense—against Walter Browne and Arthur Bisguier. Enjoy!
